3. 



RECENT FAUNA. 



Mamjialia.— 5j/ G. E. JDobson, 31. Ä., 3I.B., etc. 



The only indigeiious mammal consists of a species of frugivorous Bat, described 

 below, wliich appears to liave liitherto escaped the uotice of zoologists.* Bones of 

 tlie rabbit, rat {Mus decumanus), mouse, and pig (introduced by the settlers), were 

 brought home by the collectors, but they possess no special mterest. 



Pteropus rodericensis. 



Uobson, Catal. Chiropt. Brit. Mus. p. 30. 



Ears slightly longer tban the muzzle, but projectiug by their upper tbird only 

 from the long für surrounding them ; ear-conch moderately broad in loAver tbree- 

 fourtbs, very abruptly narrowed above by flattening of the ui>per f oiu'th of the inner 

 margin and a deep concavity of the corresponding part of the outer margin, termi- 

 nating in a narrow acute tip ; more tban two-tbii-ds of the concave surface of the 

 concli is well clothed with moderately long hairs, the upper fom-th and the back of 

 the ear naked or with a few short hairs only. 



Für long and dense, in quality intermediate between tbat of Pt. echcctrdsil and 

 P/. vulgaris ; tliat covering the back of the head, neck, and Shoulders very long, on 

 the back shorter but not appressed, the hairs directed backwards, extending thickly 

 lipon the wings almost as far outwards as a line drawn from the proximal third of 

 the bumerus to the knee, upon the femur, knee, and adjoining wing-membrane along 

 the proximal third of the tibiae, about two-thirds of which are thickly covered with 

 straight hairs directed backwards, their distal thirds being nearly naked as well as 

 the feet ; and, although the für of the back extends upon the interfemoral mem- 

 brane, it does not conceal its posterior margin, and its lower third, supported by the 

 calcanea, is naked. Beneath, the antebrachial membrane is covered with Ion"- 

 tbiuly-spread hairs, and similar hairs clothe the wing-membrane between the 

 bumerus and femur, and extend outwards in a broad band behind the forearm. Face 

 reddish brown, with a few greyish or shining hairs ; chin and throat darker brown ; 

 top of the head and nape reddish or yellowisli brown, passing into a band of bright 

 yellow, which extends across the back of the neck from Shoulder to Shoulder, and 

 downwards on the sides of the neck and thorax, limited by a longitudinal band of 



* Mr. Gulliver, who obtained some of the specimens of this Bat, remarks : — " Insectivorous Bats arc 

 " entircly absent in Rodriguez, though they exist in Mauritius. At the latter place these Bats may bo seen 

 " in the eaves, but in the caves at Rodriguez 1 uever observed a trace of them, nor did Mr. Slaier, who, 

 " from the constancy of his occupation there, coulcLMrdly have failed to see them had ihev existed.'' 



